Gesture Load Control Interface With Visual Feedback for Scene Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional load control devices are limited in their ability to control advanced electrical loads due to their simple actuation mechanisms and lack of visual feedback, making it difficult for users to manage multiple parameters or scenes across various electrical loads.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a touch-sensitive surface and integrated light sources that can present different user interfaces and provide visual feedback, allowing users to control electrical loads through gestures and preset selections, enabling advanced control and feedback mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical toggle switches or simple button actuators are used, then the device structure remains simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the control capability is limited and cannot manage multiple parameters or scenes of advanced electrical loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical actuators (toggle switches, physical buttons) with a capacitive touch-sensitive surface that detects gestures through changes in electrical capacitance. This allows the device to interpret complex gestures (swipes, taps, holds) for controlling multiple electrical load parameters including dimming levels, color temperatures, and scene selections, thereby significantly enhancing control capability without adding mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control device integrates multiple functions into a single unit: it can control lighting intensity, adjust color temperature, select preset scenes, and provide visual feedback through illuminated indicators. The touch-sensitive surface serves as both the input interface for all these functions and the display medium for visual feedback, making the device universal for managing advanced electrical loads with multiple parameters
2Ease of operation
If traditional load control devices without visual feedback are used, then the device complexity is low, but the user experience is poor and users cannot see the state or mode of the control device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual feedback mechanisms where the touch-sensitive surface or adjacent light sources illuminate to indicate the current state, selected mode, or active scene. For example, different regions of the touch surface may light up to show the current dimming level, or color changes may indicate the active color temperature preset. This immediate visual confirmation enhances user experience by keeping users informed about device state without requiring additional complex display components
Solution Approach 2:
The control device uses color changes in the visual feedback to convey different operational states. The touch-sensitive surface or integrated light sources can change color to indicate different modes (e.g., warm white for cozy scene, cool white for work scene) or different intensity levels, providing intuitive visual information to users while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user interaction and control capabilities by translating gestures into control data for electrical loads and providing visual feedback, allowing for complex control scenarios such as lighting intensity, color, and scene management.
Implementation Method 1
A capacitive touch circuit may be configured to detect user inputs applied via the outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
A control device may be configured to control one or more electrical loads in a load control system. The control device may be a wall-mounted device such as dimmer switch, a remote control device, or a retrofit remote control device. The control device may include a gesture-based user interface for applying advanced control over the one or more electrical loads. The types of control may include absolute and relative control, intensity and color control, preset, zone, or operational mode selection, etc. Feedback may be provided on the control device regarding a status of the one or more electrical loads or the control device.